Thursday, April 5, 2018

The
Old Town School of Folk Music is proud to announce the appointment of Rashida A. Phillips
as its new Deputy Director. At Old Town School, Rashida Phillips will
oversee all of the School’s community-based education programs both on
campus and
off-site, as well as join the executive team in advancing strategic
initiatives across the School’s extensive public programs. Phillips will
help to guide the next phase of Old Town School’s evolution and growth.

“We’re
thrilled to have Rashida Phillips join our team,” says Executive
Director Bau Graves. “This is a new position at the School, and Rashida
offers the range of professional experience and strong
musical background that we will depend upon every day. We’re very
lucky to have attracted her.”

A
native of St. Louis, Phillips comes to Old Town School from her
position as Director of Education and Youth Initiatives at the Chicago
Humanities Festival. She has also worked at Chicago Arts Partnerships
in Education, the Merit School of Music, and the Chicago
Children’s Museum. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College,
and a master’s in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University. Phillips has
also pursued an extensive career as a jazz vocalist, familiar to local
audiences through dozens of performances at
Chicago venues over more than a decade.

Chicago’s
Old Town School of Folk Music is the largest community school of the
arts in the U.S. and a non-profit organization committed to celebrating
American music and global
cultures. Founded in 1957, the Old Town School of Folk Music provides a
wide range of music, dance, theater, and visual arts courses to people
of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Whatever one’s interest, the
Old Town School provides broad access to more
than 700 accredited weekly class offerings, private lessons, and over
400 concerts and community events per year.

The
Old Town School opened its Lincoln Square facility in 1998 and expanded
in 2012. The Old Town School owns and operates three facilities
situated in Lincoln Square and Lincoln
Park that include 425-seat and two 150-seat concert halls, 64
classrooms, two music stores, a cafe and a resource center. Children’s
classes are also held at several suburban satellite locations. More
information is available at
www.oldtownschool.org.